United Kingdom

[GB] Film Review Group Publishes its Action Plan

IRIS 1998-5:1/17

David Goldberg

deeJgee Research/Consultancy

The Film Review Group, established by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on 16 May 1997, has now published its report and Action Plan. The body is to stay in being for one more year - with an enhanced membership. Amongst the proposals are: the establishment of a "voluntary all-industry Fund" (to provide support for development work, distribution and "generic promotion of film" with more targeted lottery support going to scriptwriting, development and distribution); the establishment of a private-sector "Film Marketing Agency"; setting up a new "Skills Investment Fund" (this fund would replace the existing training levy ; there would be a voluntary levy of 0.5% on production costs up to £10 000 000 and 0.25% thereafter and public-sector funding should be conditional on contributing to the Fund); the statutory definition of film should be amended and a new definition of a British film introduced; a "Film Finance Forum" should be established to enhance investment in film; and the overall range of Government support bodies should be reviewed to ensure that the aim of strengthening the film industry is met. The Government announced, on 1 April that the tax benefit on film production and acquisition expenditure (100% write-off) announced in the July 1997 Budget will now be extended till July 2002.